Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients with acute atrial fibrillation attended at a cardiology emergency room

Atrial fibrillation occurs frequently in patients with thyrotoxicosis, while it has low prevalence in adults of the general population. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in subjects with atrial fibrillation is 0 to 24%, a wide variation that is attributed to the different methodologies applied....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:São Paulo medical journal 2003-07, Vol.121 (4), p.159-162
Main Authors: Barbisan, Juarez Neuhaus, Fuchs, Flávio Danni, D'Agord Schaan, Beatriz
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adult
Aged
Amiodarone - adverse effects
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - adverse effects
Atrial fibrillation
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism - complications
Hyperthyroidism - diagnosis
Hypothyroidism - complications
Male
MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL
Middle Aged
Thyroid dysfunction
Thyroid Gland - physiopathology
Thyrotropin - blood
Thyroxine - blood
Triiodothyronine - blood
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Summary:Atrial fibrillation occurs frequently in patients with thyrotoxicosis, while it has low prevalence in adults of the general population. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in subjects with atrial fibrillation is 0 to 24%, a wide variation that is attributed to the different methodologies applied. However, continuous use of amiodarone in patients with previous atrial fibrillation may interfere with these prevalence rates. In this study, we present the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in adult patients who presented at a cardiac emergency room with acute atrial fibrillation, using a sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assay and triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) determination. Cross-sectional study. Emergency room of a tertiary care facility. A total of 72 patients with atrial fibrillation who presented at the emergency room not more than 48 hours after its onset. A standardized questionnaire and 12-lead electrocardiogram were applied, and T3, T4 and TSH were determined. TSH, T3 and T4 determination. Among these patients, 16.6% had altered thyroid function tests: 6.9% had hyperthyroidism, 5.6% hypothyroidism and 4.2% had increased T4 levels, by means of amiodarone use. The high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in our study, especially hyperthyroidism, suggests that routine thyroid testing with sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone assay is required in patients with acute atrial fibrillation.
ISSN:1516-3180
1806-9460
1516-3180
DOI:10.1590/s1516-31802003000400004